5/17/2014

Is London really the best UK city for students?

Out of the five universities I applied to: Cambridge, University College London (UCL), York, Warwick and Leeds, each had their own list of positives. Eventually I chose UCL, swayed partly by league tables, but mainly because I wanted to study in London.

London is currently ranked as the second best student city worldwide, losing out on the top spot to Paris. The next UK city on the list is Manchester, down at number 29.

As the capital city, London is naturally a destination of choice – particularly for international students. It's where I grew up, so perhaps not leaving was unadventurous, but I'm glad I stayed here.

There are so many opportunities available here. Though its nightlife is easily matched by other UK cities such as Leeds and Manchester, London's fusion of cultures and their influence on the city is unlike any other.

London is also home to many of the biggest graduate employers. Proximity to them doesn't guarantee you a job, but it makes networking and attending interviews a lot easier. Having a base in London is a real advantage if you're applying for internships during the holidays, particularly if they're unpaid.

The number of job applications in 2013 to institutions in Greater London increased by 2.7% from 2012, reflecting the pulling power that London continues to hold.

Although I have enjoyed studying in London, there are some serious downsides too. London's a great city, but it's expensive. When affordability is included in the QS best student cities rankings, London drops to 45th place and Manchester rises to 23rd.

Olivia Renney, a Londoner who left to study at University College Dublin says: "I decided I was likely to return to London career wise after university and it's nice to have the opportunity of living somewhere else. But the main reason was that it's just so much cheaper elsewhere."

Even with a bigger student loan allowance it can be hard to make ends meet in London.

Another problem with studying in London is how lonely it can be. London universities tend not to have a campus. Faculty buildings are scattered across the city and halls of residences are spread out too. Students tend to live all over London, from Seven Sisters to Mile End.

Rosie Greener, a second-year student at Central Saint Martin's says: "In my first year I lived in halls in Old Street. I found it a really lonely experience. You walked out of halls it was so busy but yet you were completely isolated.

"You don't put London and loneliness together because there is so much going on and it's so busy. Before I went to a London university I'd never heard anyone say that it was an isolating experience, but now I find that so many people seem to feel the same."

London universities can lack the inclusive, almost familial atmosphere of other UK universities. It can feel as though you're studying part-time, interacting with students in department buildings but then living the rest of your life elsewhere.

Emma Morris, a recent graduate of the University of the Arts London says: "The lack of campus was the drawback to my university. The university spanned over most of London."

For students who want the full student experience, London might not be the best place to choose. If you want to live in or close to campus, expect to spend your evenings socialising in the union and only mixing with students, then London is not for you.

But I don't regret my choice. For those who are seeking greater independence, and would prefer an adult rather than a student lifestyle, I think London is the city to choose.